[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ custom_padding=”||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” background_enable_image=”off” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” type=”4_4″][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/reimaginingthelevels.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/somerset-levels-in-flood.jpg” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ alt=”Somerset Levels in flood” title_text=”Somerset Levels in flood”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0|0px|0|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.0″ text_font=”||||||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/reimaginingthelevels.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/bbc-news-rising-sea-levels-threaten-200000-properties.png” title_text=”Screenshot 2023-02-27 at 18.32.36″ url=”https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/science-environment-61795783″ url_new_window=”on” _builder_version=”4.20.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,2_3″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ custom_padding=”|0px|0|0px|false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/reimaginingthelevels.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Somerset-flood-projection-for-2050.png” title_text=”Somerset flood projection for 2050″ _builder_version=”4.20.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.0″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
In the aftermath of the flooding in 2013\/14, a Task Force that combined the interests of farmers, environmental bodies and local authorities produced a nine-point vision for how they wanted the Levels and Moors to be in 20 years. https:\/\/somersetnewsroom.files.wordpress.com\/2014\/02\/task-force-vision.pdf<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Reimagining the Levels believe that this vision needs significant updating as it does not take full account of the scale of the challenges now facing the area, the formation of Somerset Rivers Authority and the impact of changes to farming policy following exit from the Common Agricultural policy.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”46px|0px|0|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.20.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.0″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n \u2022 Poor decisions by some Local Planning Authorities have allowed development in locations that are likely to increase flood risk and\/or have failed to provide adequate flood management infrastructure,<\/p>\n \u2022 Poor maintenance of urban and rural drainage infrastructure has occurred over many years,<\/p>\n \u2022 Farming policy has led to the impoverishment of agricultural soil that increase the speed of soil run off and the likelihood of downstream flooding, and<\/p>\n \u2022 Uncertainty over the future of funding for the Somerset Rivers authority impacts on long-term proactive work to address the causes of flooding.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.20.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_cta title=”Our Project Report” button_url=”https:\/\/217.199.187.200\/reimaginingthelevels.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/ReimaginingLevels_Final_181016-1.pdf” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Click Here” _builder_version=”4.16″ _dynamic_attributes=”content” header_font=”|700||on|||||” header_line_height=”1.1em” body_font=”|800|||||||” body_font_size=”12px” body_line_height=”1.8em” background_image=”https:\/\/217.199.187.200\/reimaginingthelevels.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Starling-murmuration-at-Ham-Wall-nature-reserve-1024×684.jpg” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Reimagining the Levels, Making the Connections<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_cta][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ _builder_version=”4.20.0″ custom_padding=”44px|0px|0|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.0″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n \u2022 All new development should be \u2018flood positive\u2019, meaning that care is taken when identifying potential development sites so that less flood water is generated.<\/p>\n \u2022 Attenuation ponds and other Sustainable urban drainage (SuDs) measures to reduce runoff from hard surfaces must be designed, maintained\u00a0 and monitored in the long term to ensure that they permanently contribute to flood risk reduction, taking climate change into account.<\/p>\n \u2022 Local authorities should be awarded resources to identify and install key sites in their area which should be retrofitted with SuD measures. Tree planting within large areas of tarmac are a simple but obvious example.<\/p>\n \u2022 Where flooding from watercourses is a particular threat to\u00a0 urban areas downstream, sites for washland creation by setting back river banks and allowing flooding after peak rainfall conditions must be identified and constructed.<\/p>\n \u2022 The condition of the soil is improved via changes in agricultural land use and management with less maize and continuous cereal production.<\/p>\n \u2022 The impact of the rapid expansion of maize for use as a biomass crop and for animal feed must be urgently assessed and a policy developed of limiting the area of maize where it is contributing to flooding<\/p>\n If you are interested to know more about any of these issues the Report provides substantive detail.<\/p>\n Or you can contact Phil Stone\u00a0<\/span>here<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>with specific questions.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.20.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ _builder_version=”4.20.0″ custom_padding=”44px|0px|0|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.0″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.somerset.gov.uk\/policies-and-plans\/strategies\/flood-and-water-management\/<\/a> [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.20.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Parts of Somerset have recently been identified as among the 3 most vulnerable areas to coastal flooding in England. Climate change means that severe 1-in-100 years flood events are likely to become twice as frequent by the 2050s and sights like these will become commonplace unless something is done. The harrowing and devastating effects of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-294","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/reimaginingthelevels.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/294","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/reimaginingthelevels.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/reimaginingthelevels.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/reimaginingthelevels.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/reimaginingthelevels.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=294"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/reimaginingthelevels.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/294\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2186,"href":"https:\/\/reimaginingthelevels.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/294\/revisions\/2186"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/reimaginingthelevels.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=294"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}The Reimagining the Levels\u00a0<\/span>report<\/a>\u00a0identifies how:<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n
Reimagining the Levels solutions to the flooding are identified in detail on page 11 of the\u00a0Main Report<\/a>\u00a0(above right<\/em>) but in essence it advocates:<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Related websites<\/h5>\n
\nhttps:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/somerset-levels-and-moors-reducing-the-risk-of-flooding<\/a>
\nhttps:\/\/www.somersetriversauthority.org.uk\/flood-risk-work\/<\/a><\/p>\n